Door opener and closer



April 14, 1953 H. E. ROSEBROOK DOOR OPENER AND CLOSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1951 v INVENTOR. /7MQ i IQ QQ L April 1953 H. E. ROSEBROOK 2,634,970

DOOR OPENER AND CLOSER Filed March 30, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 1953 H. E. ROSEBROOK 2,634,970

DOOR OPENER AND CLOSER Filed March 50, 1951 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 25 46 48\ gi 5/ z 4 INVENTOR. WUMEQ [T ,QUJEB U W 4 mm a mpL 4 e E 3 w W% 6 2 m 15%, e U HL 0 4.

EM L Km 5 00 on M W D Em H mm 5% R m D April 14, 1953 Flled March 30 1951 mechanism.

7 latch operator.

, Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE noon OPENER AND CLOSER Homer E. Rosebrook, Greenville, Mich., assignor to Gibson Refrigerator Company, Greenville, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 30, 1951, Serial No. 218,443

6 Claims. (Cl. 268-36 This invention relates to door operators and more particularly to a door operator that will both open and close a door. I

While suchan operator is useful in many types of door installations, it isparticularly useful in the case of doors. for refrigerators'that may be controlled by a foot pedal, thereby having both of the users hands free to hold articles being taken from or. put into the refrigerator. j

. The principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanism that will open the door upon operation of a lever, and close the same upon an identical operation of the same lever;

Another object of the invention is to provide a door opener and closer which will release the door latch and simultaneously open the door, and then close the door when desired.

A still further object is to provide a door opener and closer in which the actual opening and closing of the door is controlled by a spring which is stressed by operation of a suitable lever.

These objects will more fully appear in the following specification, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a phantom view of a refrigerator showing the door opener and closer in perspective, with the door open;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the door opener and closer; V r

Figure 3 is a front view of the same;

Figure i is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a right hand end elevational view ofa part of the door opener and closer mechanism; 1 V p I Figure 6 is a fragmentary phantom left hand elevational view of the refrigerator showing the latch operating mechanism; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the door latch Referring now in more detailto the drawings, the .entire mechanism consists essentially of two sections, the door openerand closer, andthe door jThe former is ,shown'in Figures 1 to 5, and the latter in'Figures l and 6.

' Figure 7 shows the essential parts of a form of latch which can be operatedby the latch-operator.

The door opener and closer mechanism is mountedon a supporting plate it so that this entire sub-assembly canbe mounted as a unit in, the bottom of therefrigerator. cabinet; 9.

' striker 43.

cabinet while the opposite end of the pedal lever is inside of the cabinet. The rear end of lever i2 is pivotally connected at M to another bell crank l5 which inturn is pivotally connected at I! to a bracket 16 mounted on plate H]. Bell crank [55 is pivotally connected'at Hi to a link i 9 which is a twisted strip of metal.

Link it is pivoted to bell crank 2'!) at 2!. This bellfcrank 2%] is seen as approximately a right an le in Figure l, but, the two arms 20a and 202) are spaced vertically bya web 200 as seen in Figure 6. Bell crank Zfiis pivoted above plate 10 by a vertical pin 22 to a bracket 23.

The arm 20b is pivotally connected to a bar 24 at 25 which slides through a slot in a guide bracket 26 fixedly attached to plate [0. A coil tension spring 2'; is connected at one end to bar 24 and at its other end to one end of a bar 28. The latter slides through a slot in an upstanding guide bracket 29 on plate l0.

Bar 28 is pivotally connected at its opposite end to corresponding arms of a pair of bell cranks 39 and 3! which are pivotally mounted onbrackets 32 and 33 respectively, fastened to plate [0. 7

In a channel shaped guide 34 fastened to plate H! is a slide 35. This slide may be of an elongated channel member, as shown in Figure 3. The slide carries an upstanding abutment 36 and a latch keeper 31, the purposes of which will appear presently. V

Pivotally attached to the slide at'38 is a rod 39 which in turn is pivotally connected at All to a bracket M fastened to the refrigerator door 42 interiorly thereof.

otally connected at All to plate l6. Flange i6 is high enough tolie in the path of the flange on Rocker 44 is pivoted at A5 to a link 48 which is'pivotally connected at 49 to a rocker V 50 having an upstanding flange 5!. The rocker A bracket H carries a footpedal in the form V of a bell crank lever l2pivotally mounted thereon at [3. The'pedal is outside of the refrigerator 50 is pivoted on plate in at 52. A spring 53 coiled around pivot es and connected at its ends to 11m: 48 and rocker botends to keep these parts in the position shown in Figure 2. V Underneath'bar 28 and fixed thereto is a striker 54 having a downturned flange 55. This flange, 55 and flange 5| on rocker 50 are of great enough dimensions to insure that they will contact each more fully appear later.

other during their relative, movement, as will 29 into the path of movement of flange 55 on striker 54. The other end of push rod 56 is pivoted at 51 to a rocker 58 having an upstanding flange 59. The rocker 58 is pivoted on plate II) at 60. A spring 6 I coiled around pivot 51 is connected to rocker 58 and push rod 55 to maintain them normally in the position shown in Figure 2.

A latch for holding the door 42 in open position comprises a roller 62 mounted on a leaf spring 63 which in turn is fixed to a bracket 64 on plate Ill. The roller is in the path of movement of latch keeper 31 on slide 35 and is deflected when the latter strikes the roller.

The exact latch structure illustrated does not form a part of the present invention. It is, however, a form of latch that operates very satis factorily with the present invention. The latch is shown in Figures 6 and 7.

It comprises a generally U-shaped housing ill mounted in the door in a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 6. Figure '7 shows the latch turned around to illustrate its interior construction. A U-shaped yoke II is pivoted in the housing ID at I2 and carries a cylindrical keeper 13. The keeper normally en ages a hook member 14 fastened to the cabinet wall by screws 75. A coil compression spring 15 has one end fastened to a.

cylinder Tl mounted between a pair of ears 18 on yoke 'H. The other end of the sprin is fastened to a lug I9 in housing 10.

A latch push button 89 slides through a guide 3I on the housing and is ivotally connected to a bar 82. This bar is pivoted at the lower end to bracket 83 on the housing. A link 84 is pivoted at 85 to the bar 82. 84 receives a pin 86 extending through a slot 8? in the housing 10.

A push on the free end of push button 89 will cause bar 82 to rotate clockwise (in Figure 7) pulling on link 84 which will pull pin 86 downward in slot 8? compressing spring i6 and sWinging yoke II and keeper I3 downwardly to release the keeper from hook I4 so that the door may open. Upon release of pressure on button 80 the spring will restore the keeper to normal position ready to receive hook I4 when the door is closed.

The latch operating mechanism (Figures 1 and 6) com rises a plunger en mounted in suitable guides in the refrigerator cabinet wall. A bell crank 9| is pivoted at 92 on the cabinet wall and v is also pivoted to plunger 9a and to a rod 93. This rod 93 is pivoted at 94 to an extension 95 of bell crank I5.

The operation of the entire mechanism is as follows:

A downward pressure on foot pedal [2 rocks bell crank and extension 95 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 6. Bell crank extension 95 pulls down on rod 93 thereby projecting plunger 90 outwardly into engagement with push button 80 to release the latch as explained above.

Simultaneously bell crank I5 pulls on link I9 rotating bell crank counter-clockwise (as viewed in Figure 2') pulling on bar 24 and spring 21. Bar 28 and the right hand end of spring 21 cannot move appreciably as flange 55 of. striker 54 will strike against flange 5 I of rocker 50. Figure 2.) Thus, spring 21 is placed in tension.

Continued movement of bell crank ZO and bar 24 tensions spring 21 still more until the flange on striker 43 strikes the flange 45 on rocker 44 and rotates the latter clockwise. That movement pushes link 45 to the right. Just prior to the time that striker 43 engages flange 46 it also engages flange 59 on rocker 58 rotating the latter The other end of link (ill clockwise sufficiently to permit the flange on striker 43 to move by flange 59. Thereupon spring GI snaps rocker 58 back to its original position. At that time the flange on striker 43 is behind flange 53 and cannot return to its original position.

When link 48 is pushed to the right it rotates rocker 50 clockwise so that flange 5I thereon releases flange 55 on striker 54. The tensioned spring then pulls on bar 28 and rotates bell cranks 3B and 3i. The latter pushes on abutment 3% which starts to open the door 42 through the medium of slide 35, red 39 and bracket 40. By the time the abutment 35 has been pushed to a point about opposite bar 28 the door has gained sumcient momentum to continue to open position.

About that time abutment 36 leaves bell crank 3i and contacts bell crank 30 returning both to their initial positions. This movement is not opposed by spring 2'! because its tension has been released, as will more fully appear presently.

when the door has fully opened latch keeper 3? will have slipped past roller 22. The spring while not very strong, is of sufficient strength to prevent the door from swinging closed by itself.

About the time abutment 35 reaches its midway position, striker 54 has moved over against the end of push rod 56. A slight push on the free end of push rod 55 by striker 54 swings rocker 58 clockwise so that flange 59 releases the flange on striker 53 permitting spring 21 to lose its tension and pull the parts at the left of Figure 2 to their initial positions.

With the door latched open articles may be placed in, or removed from the refrigerator. When it is desired to close the door the pedal I2 is depressed again and the same cycle is repeated except that this time bell crank 38 initiates the door movement, pulling on rod 39 instead of pushing it.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention provides a door opener and door closer of novel form actuated by a single lever, with its gperation the same for both movements of the cor.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cabinet having a swinging door thereon, a door opener and closer comprising a rod connected to the door and movable between door opened and door closed positions, a door operating lever and mechanism connected to said door operating lever for opening and closing the door, said mechanism including a pair of members one engageable with said push rod in door closed position to open the door and the other engageable with the rod in door opened position to move it toward door closed position, a spring connected to said members and to said door operating lever, and means for holding the end of the spring connected to said members in a predetermined position until said spring is sub jected to a definite tension, and means for re leasing the last mentioned end .of the spring when said definite tension is reached.

2; A cabinet having a swinging door therein, a door opener and closer comprising a rod connected to the door and movable between door opened and door closed positions, a door operating lever and mechanism connected to said door operating lever for opening and. closing the door, said mechanism including a pair of bell cranks .pivotally connected intermediate their ends to a common support and positioned adjacent said rod whereby one arm of one bell crank acts on the rod in one of its positions and one arm of the other bell crank acts upon said rod in the other of its positions, a first bar pivotally connected to the other arms of the bell cranks, a spring having one end connected to the other end of said first bar, a second bar connected at one end to the other end of said spring, latch means associated with said first bar and said support for latching said first bar in inoperative position, means connecting the second bar to said door operating lever, and trip means associated with said second bar and said latch means for releasing said latch means upon a predetermined movement of said second bar.

3. A cabinet having a swinging door thereon, a door opener and closer comprising a rod connected to the door and movable between door opened and door closed positions, a door operating lever and mechanism connected to said door operating lever for opening and closing the door, said mechanism including a pair of bell cranks pivotally connected intermediate their ends to a common support and positioned adjacent said rod whereby one arm of one bell crank acts on the rod in one of its positions and one arm of the other bell crank acts upon said rod in the other of its positions, a first bar pivotally connected to the other arms of the bell cranks, a spring having one end connected to the other end of said first bar, a second bar connected at one end to the other end of said spring, latch means associated with said first bar and said support for latching said first bar in inoperative position, means connecting the second bar to said door operating lever, trip means associated with said second bar and said latch means for releasing said latch means upon a predetermined movement of said second bar, latch means on said second bar for latching the latter in a position at the end of its predetermined movement, and trip means associated with said first bar and said latch means for tripping the latter upon a predetermined movement of the first bar.

4. A cabinet having a swinging door thereon, a door opener and closer comprising a rod connected to the door and movable between door opened and door closed positions, a door operating lever and mechanism connected to said door operatmg lever for opening and closing the door, said mechanism including a pair of bell cranks each pivotally connected to a common support, one end of each bell crank being pivotally connected together, a coiled spring, means connecting one end of the spring to the pivotally connected ends of the bell cranks, means connecting the other end of said spring to said door operating lever for tensioning the spring when the door operating lever is depressed, and trip means for releasing the tension in the spring whereby the spring in returning to its normal position rotates the bell cranks through a predetermined arc.

5. A cabinet comprising a cabinet member having a door opening and a door member for closing said opening, a latch on one of said members and a cooperating keeper on the other member, a door operating lever mounted on said cabinet member for limited rocking movement relative thereto, mechanism connecting said door operating lever to said latch for releasing the latter upon a predetermined movement ofsaid door operating lever, a rod connected to the door and movable between opened and closed door positions, a pair of rod engaging members movably mounted on said cabinet, one of said rod engaging members being engageable with said rod in door closed position to open the door and the other engageable with said rod in door opened position to close the door, a coiled spring, means connecting one end of said coiled spring to said members, means for connecting the other end of said coiled spring to said door operating lever whereby to move said end when said door operating lever is rocked, means including a trip mechanism for holding the first named end of said coiled spring while said dooroperating lever is rocked a predetermined distance to tension said coiled spring, said trip mechanism being actuated to release said first named end of the coiled spring when said door operating lever is rocked a predetermined distance whereby the tension in said spring actuates said rod engaging members to open or close said door.

6. A cabinet comprising a cabinet member having a door opening and a door member for closing said opening, a latch on one of said members and a cooperating keeper on the other member, a door operating lever mounted on said cabinet member for limited rocking movement relativev thereto; mechanism connecting said door operating lever to said latch for releasing the latter upon a predetermined movement of said door operating lever, a rod connected to the door and movable between opened and closed door positions, a pair of bell cranks each pivotally connected to a common support, one end of each bell crank being pivotally conneced to the other, the other end of one bell crank being engageable with said rod in door closed position to open the door and the other end of the other bell crank being engageable with said rod in door opened position to close the door, a coiled spring, means connecting one end of said coiled spring to the pivotally connected ends of said bell crank, means for connecting the other end of said coiled spring to said door operating lever whereby to move said end when said door operating lever is rocked, means including trip mechanism for holding the first named end of said coiled spring while said door operating lever is rocked a predetermined distance to tension said coiled spring, said trip mechanism being actuated to release said first named end of the coiled spring when said door operating lever is rocked a predetermined distance whereby the tension in said spring actuates bell cranks to open or close said door.

HOMER E. ROSEBROOK.

Name Date McKee et a1. Feb. 8, 1910 Number 

